Neighbors Helping Neighbors: a Story of Provision

THE ONCE-A-CENTURY STORM

In 2020, a group of neighbors convened around Mission City Renewal’s Good Neighbor in order to discuss how relationships could create a network to address design problems in Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is a neighborhood just north of downtown San Antonio and is home to a diverse group of residents – racially and ethnically, monetarily, homeowners and renters. The family median income in Beacon Hill is just under $37,000 in a 77% Latino neighborhood according to 2015 Census Bureau information. 

Winter Storm Uri brought record snowfall and below freezing temperatures to San Antonio. Residents woke up to 5 to 6 inches of snow on Monday, February 15, 2021. And no electricity. As the week progressed, a city unfit for such severe winter weather suffered bursting pipes, power outages, and no water. Eventually, those who did still have water access were placed under a water boil notice, as the San Antonio Water System was not able to filter water properly without electricity. While these conditions led to many problems for all, Winter Storm Uri and the ever-continuing global pandemic of COVID-19 have revealed that many in San Antonio who have been living in inequitable situations suffer more drastically. 

WHAT ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS

We started by making sure people had water. We used the Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association Facebook group as a starting point. As people asked for help, we were able to send a runner to deliver the water. Upon delivery, we urged our neighbors to start checking in with their next door neighbors and let us know if any more needs presented themselves. We started to ask our network to volunteer and to donate water, groceries, and blankets for us to take to our neighbors.

Water continued to be big immediate need. Even after service had been restored, many had to wait for a plumber to fix their pipes and others without power could not boil their water to safely drink it. At first, we were concerned about our lack of bottled water and containers to transport boiled water, but it seemed we could never fully run out. Donated bottled water, boiled water, and empty jugs waiting to be refilled were constantly coming through the door. 

As more volunteers responded, we were able to reach so many of our community members by conducting block-by-block wellness checks and handing out a flier in English and Spanish. These connections fueled our whole operation. The system was simple — a systematic approach that put relationships at the center. We busted out our asset map of the Beacon Hill neighborhood, broken down by blocks.

Our asset-mapping had led us to the realization that our most vulnerable neighbors might live in specific areas in our neighborhood. We sent volunteer block-walkers door-to-door conducting wellness checks, texting back needs or leaving fliers with city services, plumbing recommendations and our organization’s information. Runners took water and food straight to those neighbors. Our neighbor Rose said, “As an older person who lives alone, I can tell you that having someone come by is invaluable.”